Composition for the treatment of textiles

ABSTRACT

There is provided a stable, concentrated fabric rinse composition comprising 0.1 to 20, preferably 1 to 10% by weight of a UV absorber selected from a hydroxyaryl-1,3,5-triazine, a sulphonated-1,3,5-triazine, an o-hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole or a 2-aryl-2H-benzotriazole, based on the total weight of the composition, and a fabric care ingredient, preferably a fabric softener, a stain release or stain repellant ingredient or a water-proofing agent, the remainder being substantially water. The fabric rinse composition is preferably a fabric softener composition comprising 5 to 25, preferably 10 to 20% by weight of a cationic fabric softening agent and 0.1 to 20, preferably 1 to 10% by weight of a UV absorber selected from a hydroxyaryl-1,3,5-triazine, a sulphonated-1,3,5-triazine, an o-hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole or a 2-aryl-2H-benzotriazole, each based on the total weight of the composition, the remainder being substantially water. The present invention also provides method for the treatment of a textile article, comprising applying, to the previously washed article, the said fabric rinse composition, preferably the rinse cycle fabric softener composition, whereby the SPF value of articles so treated can be significantly increased.

The present invention relates to a composition for the treatment of textiles, in particular to a fabric care composition containing a UV absorber; and to a method of treating textiles with the composition, which method imparts to textile fibre material so treated, in addition to an excellent sun protection factor (SPF) value, and other desirable properties.

It is known that light radiation of wavelengths 280-400 nm permits tanning of the epidermis. Also known is that rays of wavelengths 280-320 nm (termed UV-B radiation), cause erythemas and skin burning which can inhibit skin tanning.

Radiation of wavelengths 320-400 nm (termed UV-A radiation) is known to induce skin tanning but can also cause skin damage, especially to sensitive skin which is exposed to sunlight for long periods. Examples of such damage include loss of skin elasticity and the appearance of wrinkles, promotion of the onset of erythemal reaction and the inducement of phototoxic or photoallergic reactions.

Any effective protection of the skin from the damaging effects of undue exposure to sunlight clearly needs to include means for absorbing both UV-A and UV-B components of sunlight before they reach the skin surface.

Traditionally, protection of exposed human skin against potential damage by the UV components in sunlight has been effected by directly applying to the skin a preparation containing a UVA. In areas of the world, e.g. Australia and America, which enjoy especially sunny climates, there has been a great increase in the awareness of the potential hazards of undue exposure to sunlight, compounded by fears of the consequences of alleged damage to the ozone layer. Some of the more distressing embodiments of skin damage caused by excessive, unprotected exposure to sunlight are development of melanomas or carcinomas on the skin.

One aspect of the desire to increase the level of skin protection against sunlight has been the consideration of additional measures, over and above the direct protection of the skin. For example, consideration has been given to the provision of protection to skin covered by clothing and thus not directly exposed to sunlight.

Most natural and synthetic textile materials are at least partially permeable to UV components of sunlight. Accordingly, the mere wearing of clothing does not necessarily provide skin beneath the clothing with adequate protection against damage by UV radiation. Although clothing containing a deeply coloured dye and/or having a tight weave texture may provide a reasonable level of protection to skin beneath it, such clothing is not practical in hot sunny climates, from the standpoint of the personal comfort of the wearer.

There is a need, therefore, to provide protection against UV radiation for skin which lies underneath clothing, including lightweight summer clothing, which is undyed or dyed only in pale shades. Depending on the nature of the dyestuff, even skin beneath clothing dyed in some dark shades may also require protection from UV radiation.

Such lightweight summer clothing normally has a density of of less than 200 g/m² and has a sun protection factor rating between 1.5 and 20, depending on the type of fibre from which the clothing is manufactured.

The SPF rating of a sun protectant (sun cream or clothing) may be defined as the multiple of the time taken for the average person wearing the sun protectant to suffer sun burning under average exposure to sun. For example, if an average person would normally suffer sun burn after 30 minutes under standard exposure conditions, a sun protectant having an SPF rating of 5 would extend the period of protection from 30 minutes to 2 hours and 30 minutes. For people living in especially sunny climates, where mean sun burn times are minimal, e.g. only 15 minutes for an average fair-skinned person at the hottest time of the day, SPF ratings of about 20 are desired for lightweight clothing.

The selection of a suitable UVA, for use in a method for effecting an increase in the SPF value of a textile fibre material (often referred to as a “UV cutting” treatment method), has to take into account the fact that the treated textile fibre material must satisfy performance criteria in a wide range of areas, such as washfastness, lightfastness and tear resistance, apart from its SPF value.

For example, the currently known non-reactive UVAs generally exhibit an inadequate washfastness when applied to cotton. Consequently, their use in UV cutting applications (and also for the purpose of improving the lightfastness) is limited.

It is already known from WO 86/2392, that a fabric softening composition may comprise:

a) 20-89.9% by weight of a specified alkoxylated β-sitosterol;

b) 10-79.9% by weight of di(C₁₂-C₂₂-alkyl)dimethylammonium chloride or a specified imidazoline derivative;

c) 0.01-10% by weight of a UV-absorber; and

d) 0-10% by weight of one or more additives.

The specified alkoxylated β-sitosterol components of these known compositions appear to be rather inaccessible compounds which are not commercially available. Moreover, the specific UV-absorbers described in WO 86/2392, with the exception of 2-hydroxy-4-cyanobenzophenone are, in fact, fluorescent whitening agents rather than UV-absorbers.

Surprisingly, it has now been found that by applying, to a washed article of clothing, a rinse cycle fabric care formulation comprising a specific UV absorber, especially a rinse cycle fabric softener comprising a specific UV absorber, the SPF factor of clothing so treated can be significantly increased, without the need to include an alkoxylated β-sitosterol in the rinse cycle fabric care formulation.

The present invention provides, therefore, as a first aspect, a stable, concentrated fabric rinse composition comprising:

a) 0.1 to 20, preferably 1 to 10% by weight of a UV absorber selected from a hydroxyaryl-1,3,5-triazine, a sulphonated-1,3,5-triazine, an o-hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole or a 2-aryl-2H-benzotriazole, based on the total weight of the composition;

b) a fabric care ingredient, preferably a fabric softener, a stain release or stain repellant ingredient or a water-proofing agent; and

c) the remainder being substantially water.

The fabric care ingredient is preferably present in an amount of from 5 to 25, preferably 10 to 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

The present invention provides, as a second aspect, a stable, concentrated rinse cycle fabric softener composition comprising:

a) 0.1 to 20, preferably 1 to 10% by weight of a UV absorber selected from a hydroxyaryl-1,3,5-triazine, a sulphonated-1,3,5-triazine, an o-hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole or a 2-aryl-2H-benzotriazole, based on the total weight of the composition;

b) 5 to 25, preferably 10 to 20% by weight of a cationic fabric softening agent,based on the total weight of the composition; and c) the remainder being substantially water.

Preferred examples of cationic fabric softening agents include imidazolines and quaternary ammonium compounds as well as mixtures thereof.

Preferred imidazoline cationic fabric softening agents are those having the formula:

in which R is hydrogen or C₁-C₄alkyl; R₁ is a C₈-C₃₀aliphatic residue; R₂ is hydrogen, a C₈-C₃₀aliphatic residue, C₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄halogenoalkyl, C₁-C₄hydroxyalkyl or a group —C₂H₄—OC(═O)—R₅ or —C₂H₄—N(R₄)—C(═O)—R₅ in which R₄ is hydrogen or C₈-C₃₀alkyl and R₅ is hydrogen or C₁-C₄alkyl; R₃ is a C₈-C₃₀aliphatic residue, C₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄halogenoalkyl, C₁-C₄hydroxyalkyl or a group —C₂H₄—OC(═O)—R₅ or —C₂H₄—N(R₄)—C(═O)—R₅ in which R₄ and R₅ have their previous significance; and X is an anion.

Preferably R is hydrogen or methyl; R₁ is C₁₄-C₁₈alkyl or C₁₄-C₁₈alkenyl; R₂ is hydrogen, C₁₄-C₁₈alkyl, C₁₄-C₁₈alkenyl, C₁-C₄alkyl, C₁-C₄halogenoalkyl or C₁-C₄hydroxyalkyl; and R₃ is a group —C₂H₄—OC(═O)—R₅ or —C₂H₄—N(R₄)—C(═O)—R₅ in which R₄ is hydrogen or C₈-C₃₀alkyl and R₅ is hydrogen or C₁-C₄alkyl.

Preferred anions X include chloride, bromide, iodide, fluoride, sulfate, methosulfate, nitrite, nitrate or phosphate anions, as well as carboxylate anions such as acetate, adipate, phthalate, benzoate, stearate or oleate anions.

Specific examples of preferred compounds of formula (1) include:

2-tallow-1-(2-stearoyloxyethyl)-imidazoline chloride,

2-tallow-1-(2-stearoyloxyethyl)-imidazoline sulfate,

2-tallow-1-(2-stearoyloxyethyl)-imidazoline methosulfate,

2-tallow-1-methyl-3-(2-stearoylamidoethyl)-imidazoline chloride,

2-tallow-1-methyl-3-(2-stearoylamidoethyl)-imidazoline sulfate,

2-tallow-1-methyl-3-(2-stearoylamidoethyl)-imidazoline methosulfate,

2-heptadecyl-1-methyl-1-oleylamidoethyl-imidazolinium-metho-sulfate,

2-heptadecyl-1-methyl-1-(2-stearoylamido)ethyl-imidazolinium-sulfate,

2-heptadecyl-1-methyl-1-(2-stearoylamido)ethyl-imidazolinium-chloride

2-coco-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-benzyl-imidazolinium-chloride

2-coco-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-(4-chlorobutyl)-imidazolinium-chloride

2-coco-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-octadecenyl-imidazolinium-chloride

2-tallow-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-benzyl-imidazolinium-chloride

2-tallow-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-(4-chlorobutyl)-imidazolinium-chloride

2-heptadecenyl-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-(4-chlorobutyl)-imidazolinium-chloride

2-heptadecenyl-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-benzyl-imidazolinium-chloride and

2-heptadecenyl-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-octadecyl-imidazolinium-chloride

One class of preferred quaternary ammonium compounds is that having the formula:

in which R₆ is a C₈-C₃₀aliphatic residue, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀ and R₁₁, independently, are hydrogen, C₁-C₄alkyl or C₁-C₄hydroxyalkyl, X has its previous significance, m is an integer from 1 to 5 and n is an integer from 2 to 6.

Preferred compounds of formula (2) are those in which R₆ is C₁₂-C₁₈alkyl and R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀ and R₁₁, independently, are C₁-C₄alkyl, especially methyl.

Specific examples of preferred compounds of formula (2) are:

N-(tallow)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-1,3-propanediammoniumdimethosulfate

N-(tallow)-N,N′,N′-trimethyl-1,3-propanediammoniumdimetho sulfate

N-(tallow)-N,N,N′,N′,N′-pentamethyl-1,3-propanediammoniumdimethosulfate

N-oleyl-N,N,N′,N′,N′-pentamethyl-1,3-propanediammoniumdime thosulfate

N-stearyl-N,N,N′,N′,N′-pentamethyl-1,3-propanediammoniumdime thosulfate and

N-stearyloxypropyl-N,N′,N′-tris(3-hydroxypropyl)-1,3-propanediammoniumdiacetate.

A further class of preferred quaternary ammonium compounds is that having the formula:

in which X has its previous significance and the groups R₁₂ may be the same or different and each is a C₁-C₃₀aliphatic residue, provided that at least one group R₁₂, and preferably two groups R₁₂ are C₁₄-C₃₀alkyl. Preferably, the remaining groups R₁₂ are C₁-C₄alkyl, especially methyl or ethyl.

Specific preferred compounds of formula (3) are:

distearyldimethylammonium chloride

dilauryldimethylammonium chloride

dihexadecyldimethylammonium chloride

distearyldimethylammonium bromide

distearyldimethylammonium methosulfate and

distearyldi-(isopropyl)-ammonium chloride.

The UV absorber used readily absorbs UV light, especially in the range λ=300 to 400 nm, and converts the absorbed energy, by a chemical intermediate reaction, into non-interfering, stable compounds or into non-interfering forms of energy. The UV absorber used should, of course, be compatible with the rinse cycle fabric softener composition. Preferably, the UV absorber used is one which is capable of being absorbed on to the washed textile article during a rinse cycle fabric softener treatment.

Such known UV absorbers for use in the present invention are described, for example, in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,118,887, 3,259,627, 3,293,247, 3,382,183, 3,423,360, 4,127,586, 4,141,903, 4,230,867, 4,675,352 and 4,698,064.

One preferred class of triazine UV absorbers is that having the formula:

in which R₁₃ and R₁₄, independently, are hydrogen, hydroxy or C₁-C₅alkoxy.

A second preferred class of triazine UV absorbers is that having the formula:

in which at least one of R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ is a radical of formula:

in which M is hydrogen, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, ammonium, mono-, di-, tri- or tetra-C₁-C₄alkylammonium, mono-, di- or tri-C₁-C₄hydroxyalkylammonium or ammonium that is di- or tri-substituted by a mixture of C₁-C₄alkyl and C₁-C₄hydroxyalkyl groups; m is 1 or 2; and the remaining substituent(s) R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ are, independently, amino, C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, C₁-C₁₂alkylthio, mono- or di-C₁-C₁₂alkylamino, phenyl, phenylthio, anilino or N-phenyl-N-C₁-C₄alkylamino, preferably N-phenyl-N-methylamino or N-phenyl-N-ethylamino, the respective phenyl substituents being optionally substituted by C₁-C₁₂alkyl or -alkoxy, C₅-C₈cycloalkyl or halogen.

A third preferred class of triazine UV absorbers is that having the formula:

in which R₁₈ is hydrogen or hydroxy; R₁₉ and R₂₀, independently, are hydrogen or C₁-C₄alkyl; n₁ is 1 or 2; and B is a group of formula:

in which n has its previous significance and is preferably 2 or 3; Y₁ and Y₂, independently, are C₁-C₄alkyl optionally substituted by halogen, cyano, hydroxy or C₁-C₄alkoxy or Y₁ and Y₂, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are each attached, form a 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring, preferably a morpholine, pyrrolidine, piperidine or hexamethyleneimine ring; Y₃ is hydrogen, C₃-C₄alkenyl or C₁-C₄alkyl optionally substituted by cyano, hydroxy or C₁-C₄alkoxy or Y₁, Y₂ and Y₃, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are each attached, form a pyridine or picoline ring; and X₁ ^(⊖) is a colourless anion, preferably CH₃OSO₃ ^(⊖) or C₂H₅OSO₃ ^(⊖).

One preferred class of triazole UV absorbers is that having the formula:

in which T₁ is chlorine or, preferably, hydrogen; and T₂ is a C₈-C₃₀, preferably C₈-C₁₆, especially C₉-C₁₂alkyl group. T₂ may be a random statistical mixture of at least three isomeric branched sec. C₈-C₃₀, preferably C₈-C₁₆, especially C₉-C₁₂alkyl groups, each having the formula —CH(E₁)(E₂) in which E₁ is a straight chain C₁-C₄alkyl group and E₂ is a straight chain C₄-C₁₅alkyl group, the total number of carbon atoms in E₁ and E₂ being from 7 to 29.

A second preferred class of triazole UV absorbers is that having the formula:

in which M has its previous significance, but is preferably sodium, and T₃ is hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂alkyl or benzyl.

A third preferred class of triazole UV absorbers is that having the formula:

in which B has its previous significance.

In the compounds of formulae (4) to (9), C₁-C₁₂Alkyl groups R₁₅, R₁₆, R₁₇ and T₃ may be methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert.-butyl,n-amyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, n-undecyl and n-dodecyl, methyl and ethyl being preferred, except in the case of T₃ for which isobutyl is preferred. C₈-C₃₀alkyl groups T₂ include sec.octyl, decyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, eicosyl and triacontyl groups.

C₁-C₅Alkoxy groups R₁₃ or R₁₄ may be, e.g., methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, isobutoxy, tert.-butoxy or n-amyloxy, preferably methoxy or ethoxy, especially methoxy. C₁-C₁₂Alkoxy groups R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ include those indicated for the C₁-C₅alkoxy groups R₁₃ or R₁₄ together with, e.g., n-hexoxy, n-heptoxy, n-octoxy, isooctoxy, n-nonoxy, n-decoxy, n-undecoxy and n-dodecoxy, methoxy and ethoxy being preferred.

C₁-C₁₂Alkylthio groups R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ may be, e.g., methylthio, ethylthio, n-propylthio, isopropylthio, n-butylthio, isobutylthio, tert.-butylthio, n-amylthio, hexylthio, n-heptylthio, n-octylthio, isooctylthio, n-nonylthio, n-decylthio, n-undecylthio and n-dodecylthio, methylthio and ethylthio being preferred.

C₁-C₁₂Mono- or di-alkylamino groups R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ include, e.g., mono- or di-methylamino, ethylamino, n-propylamino, isopropylamino, n-butylamino, isobutylamino, tert.-butylamino, n-amylamino, n-hexylamino, n-heptylamino, n-octylamino, isooctylamino, n-nonylamino, n-decylamino, n-undecylamino and n-dodecylamino, mono- or di-methylamino or ethylamino being preferred.

The alkyl radicals in the mono-, di-, tri- or tetra-C₁-C₄alkylammonium groups M are preferably methyl. Mono-, di- or tri-C₁-C₄hydroxyalkylammonium groups M are preferably those derived from ethanolamine, di-ethanolamine or tri-ethanolamine. When M is ammonium that is di- or tri-substituted by a mixture of C₁-C₄alkyl and C₁-C₄hydroxyalkyl groups, it is preferably N-methyl-N-ethanolamine or N,N-dimethyl-N-ethanolamine. M is preferably, however, hydrogen or sodium.

Preferred compounds of formula (4) are those having the formulae:

The compounds of formula (4) are known and may be prepared e.g. by the method described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,118,887.

Preferred compounds of formula (5) are those having the formula:

in which R₂₁, and R₂₂, independently, are C₁-C₁₂alkyl, preferably methyl; m is 1 or 2; M₁ is hydrogen, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, ammonium or tetra-C₁-C₁₂alkylammonium, preferably hydrogen; and n₂ and n₃, independently, are 0, 1 or 2, preferably 1 or 2.

Particularly preferred compounds of formula (18) are:

2,4-diphenyl-6-[2-hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxy-3-sulfopropoxy)-phenyl]-1,3,5-triazine;

2-phenyl-4,6-bis-[2-hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxy-3-sulfopropoxy)-phenyl]-1,3,5-triazine;

2,4-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-6-[2-hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxy-3-sulfopropoxy)-phenyl]-1,3,5-triazine; and

2,4-bis(4-methylphenyl)-6-[2-hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxy-3-sulfo propoxy)-phenyl]-1,3,5-triazine.

The compounds of formula (5) are known and may be prepared in the manner, e.g., described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,991.

The compounds of formula (8) are known and may be prepared in the manner, e.g., described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,352.

The compounds of formula (9) are known and may be prepared in the manner, e.g., described in EP-A-0 314 620.

The compounds of formula (10) are known and may be prepared in the manner, e.g., described in EP-A-0 357 545.

Some of the UV absorbers used in the method of the present invention may be only sparingly soluble in water and may need to be applied in dispersed form. For this purpose, they may be milled with an appropriate dispersant, conveniently using quartz balls and an impeller, down to a particle size of 1-2 microns.

As dispersing agents for such sparingly-soluble UV absorbers there may be mentioned:

acid esters or their salts of alkylene oxide adducts, e.g., acid esters or their salts of a polyadduct of 4 to 40 moles of ethylene oxide with 1 mole of a phenol, or phosphoric acid esters of the adduct of 6 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with 1 mole of 4-nonylphenol, 1 mole of dinonylphenol or, especially, with 1 mole of compounds which have been produced by the addition of 1 to 3 moles of styrenes on to 1 mole of phenol;

polystyrene sulphonates;

fatty acid taurides;

alkylated diphenyloxide-mono- or -di-sulphonates;

sulphonates of polycarboxylic acid esters;

addition products of 1 to 60, preferably 2 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide on to fatty amines, fatty amides, fatty acids or fatty alcohols, each having 8 to 22 carbon atoms, or on to tri- to hexavalent C₃-C₆alkanols, the addition products having been converted into an acid ester with an organic dicarboxylic acid or with an inorganic polybasic acid;

lignin sulphonates; and, in particular

formaldehyde condensation products, e.g., condensation products of lignin sulphonates and/or phenol and formaldehyde; condensation products of formaldehyde with aromatic sulphonic acids, e.g., condensation products of ditolylethersulphonates and formaldehyde; condensation products of naphthalenesulphonic acid and/or naphthol- or naphthylaminesulphonic acids and formaldehyde; condensation products of phenolsulphonic acids and/or sulphonated dihydroxydiphenylsulphone and phenols or cresols with formaldehyde and/or urea; or condensation products of diphenyloxide-disulphonic acid derivatives with formaldehyde.

In addition to the UV absorber, the composition according to the present invention may also contain a minor proportion of one or more adjuvants. Examples of adjuvants include emulsifiers, perfumes, colouring dyes, opacifiers, fluorescent whitening agents, bactericides, nonionic surfactants, anti-gelling agents such as nitrites or nitrates of alkali metals, especially sodium nitrate, and corrosion inhibitors such as sodium silicate.

The amount of each of these optional adjuvants preferably ranges from 0.05 to 5% by weight of the composition.

A particularly preferred optional adjuvant is a cationic, amphoteric or anionic fluorescent whitening agent.

The cationic fluorescent whitening agent is preferably of the bistyrylphenyl class or phosphinic acid salt class; the amphoteric fluorescent whitening agent is preferably of the styrene or amine oxide class; and the anionic fluorescent whitening agent is preferably of the aminostilbene, dibenzofuranylbiphenyl or bistyrylphenyl class.

One preferred class of cationic bistyrylphenyl fluorescent whitening agent is that having the formula:

in which Y is arylene, preferably 1,4-phenylene or 4,4′-diphenylene, each optionally substituted by chloro, methyl or methoxy; q is 1 or 2; R₂₃ is hydrogen, chloro, C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, cyano or C₁-C₄-alkoxycarbonyl; R₂₄ and R₂₅ are C₁-C₄-alkyl, chloroethyl, methoxyethyl, β-ethoxyethyl, β-acetoxyethyl or β-cyanoethyl, benzyl or phenylethyl; R₂₆ is C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₂-C₃-hydroxyalkyl, β-hydroxy-γ-chloropropyl, β-cyanoethyl or C₁-C₄-alkoxy-carbonylethyl; and A is an anion, preferably the chloride, bromide, iodide, methosulfate, ethosulfate, benzenesulfonate or p-toluenesulfonate anion when R₂₆ is C₁-C₄-alkyl or A is preferably the formate, acetate, propionate or benzoate anion when R₂₆ is β-hydroxy-γ-chloropropyl, β-cyanoethyl or C₁-C₄-alkoxy-carbonylethyl.

Preferred compounds of formula (19) are those in which Y is 1,4-phenylene or 4,4′-diphenylene; R₂₃ is hydrogen, methyl or cyano; R₂₄ and R₂₅ are each methyl or cyano; and R₂₆ and A have their previously indicated preferred meanings.

One particularly preferred compound of formula (19) is that having the formula:

The compounds of formula (19) and their production are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,193.

A further preferred class of cationic bistyrylphenyl fluorescent whitening agent is that having the formula:

in which R₂₃ and q have their previous significance; Y₄ is C₂-C₄-alkylene or hydroxypropylene; R₂₇ is C₁-C₄-alkyl or, together with R₂₈ and the nitrogen to which they are each attached, R₂₇ forms a pyrrolidine, piperidine, hexamethyleneimine or morpholine ring; R₂₈ is C₁-C₄-alkyl or, together with R₂₇ and the nitrogen to which they are each attached, R₂₈ forms a pyrrolidine, piperidine, hexamethyleneimine or morpholine ring; R₂₉ is hydrogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₃-C₄-alkenyl, C₁-C₄-akoxycarbonylmethyl, benzyl, C₂-C₄-hydroxyalkyl, C₂-C₄-cyanoalkyl or, together with R₂₇ and R₂₈ and the nitrogen atom to which they are each attached, R₂₉ forms a pyrrolidine, piperidine, hexamethyleneimine or morpholine ring; A has its previous significance; and p is 0 or 1.

Preferred compounds of formula (21) are those in which q is 1; R₂₃ is hydrogen, chlorine, C₁-C₄-alkyl or C₁-C₄-alkoxy; Y₄ is (CH₂)₂; R₂₇ and R₂₈ are the same and each is methyl or ethyl; R₂₉ is methyl or ethyl; p is 1; and A is CH₃OSO₃ or C₂H₅OSO₃.

The compounds of formula (21) and their production are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,339,393.

A further preferred class of cationic bistyrylphenyl fluorescent whitening agent is that having the formula:

in which R₂₃, Y₄, A, p and q have their previous significance; R₃₀ and R₃₁, independently, are C₁-C₄-alkyl or C₂-C₃-alkenyl or R₃₀ and R₃₁, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a pyrrolidine, piperidine, hexamethyleneimine or morpholine ring; R₃₂ is hydrogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl or C₂-C₃-alkenyl or R₃₀, R₃₁ and R₃₂, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a pyridine or picoline ring; and Z is sulfur, —SO₂—, —SO₂NH—, —O—C₁-C₄-alkylene-COO— or —OCO—.

Preferred compounds of formula (22) are those in which R₂₃ is hydrogen, chlorine, C₁-C₄-alkyl or C₁-C₄-alkoxy; R₃₀ and R₃₁, independently, are C₁-C₄-alkyl or, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a pyrrolidine, piperidine or morpholine ring; R₃₂ is hydrogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl or C₃-C₄-alkenyl or R₃₀, R₃₁ and R₃₂, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a pyridine ring; and Z is sulfur, —SO₂— or —SO₂NH—,.

The compounds of formula (22) and their production are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,352.

A further preferred class of cationic bistyrylphenyl fluorescent whitening agent is that having the formula:

in which R₂₃, R₃₀, R₃₁, R₃₂, Y₄, A, p and q have their previous significance.

Preferred compounds of formula (23) are those in which q is 1; R₂₃ is hydrogen, chlorine, C₁-C₄-alkyl or C₁-C₄-alkoxy; R₃₀ and R₃₁, independently, are C₁-C₄-alkyl or, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a pyrrolidine, piperidine or morpholine ring; R₃₂ is hydrogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl or C₃-C₄-alkenyl or R₃₀, R₃₁ and R₃₂, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a pyridine ring.

The compounds of formula (23) and their production are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,087.

One preferred class of amphoteric styrene fluorescent whitening agent is that having the formula:

in which R₂₃, R₃₀, R₃₁, Y₄ and q have their previous significance and Z₁ is oxygen, sulfur, a direct bond, —COO—, —CON(R₃₂)— or —SO₂N(R₃₂)— in which R₃₂ is hydrogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl or cyanoethyl; and Q is —COO— or —SO₃.

Preferred compounds of formula (24) are those in which Z₁ is oxygen, a direct bond, —CONH—, —SO₂NH— or —COO—, especially oxygen; q is 1; R₃₀ is hydrogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl, methoxy or chlorine; and R₃₁, R₃₂, Y₄ and Q have their previous significance.

The compounds of formula (24) and their production are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,598.

One preferred class of amine oxide fluorescent whitening agent is that having the formula:

in which q has its previous significance; W is a whitener radical selected from a 4,4′-distyrylbiphenyl, 4,4′-divinyl-stilbene, and a 1,4′-distyrylbenzene, each optionally substituted by one to four substituents selected from halogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-hydroxyalkyl, C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl, C₁-C₄-cyanoalkyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, phenyl-C₁-C₄-alkyl, carboxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, carb-C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-alkenyl, C₅-C₈-cycloalkyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, C₁-C₄-alkenoxy, C₁-C₄-alkoxycarbonyl, carbamoyl, cyano, C₁-C₄-alkyl-sulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxysulfonyl, sulfamoyl, hydroxyl, carboxyl, sulfo and trifluoromethyl; Z₂ is a direct bond between B and Y₅, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, —SO₂—, —SO₂—O—, —COO—, —CON(R₃₅)— or —SO₂N(R₃₅)— in which R₃₅ is hydrogen or C₁-C₄-alkyl optionally substituted by halogen, cyano, hydroxyl, C₂-C₅-carbalkoxy, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, phenyl, chlorophenyl, methylphenyl, methoxyphenyl, carbamoyl or sulfamoyl; Y₅ is C₂-C₄-alkylene or C₂-C₄-alkyleneoxy-C₂-C₄-alkylene, each optionally substituted by halogen, hydroxyl, C₂-C₅-carbalkoxy, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, phenyl, chlorophenyl, methylphenyl, methoxyphenyl, carbamoyl or sulfamoyl; and R₃₃ and R₃₄, independently, are C₅-C₈-cycloalkyl, C₁-C₄-alkyl or phenyl, each optionally substituted by halogen, hydroxyl, C₂-C₅-carbalkoxy, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, phenyl, chlorophenyl, methylphenyl, methoxyphenyl, carbamoyl or sulfamoyl; in which, in all the carbamoyl or sulfamoyl groups, the nitrogen atom is optionally substituted by one or two C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-hydroxyalkyl, C₂-C₅-cyanoalkyl, C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl, benzyl or phenyl groups.

Preferred whitener radicals W are those having the formula:

in which q has its previous significance and the rings are optionally substituted as indicated above.

Preferably Z₂ is oxygen, —SO₂— or —SO₂N(R₃₆)— in which R₃₆ is hydrogen or C₁-C₄-alkyl optionally substituted by hydroxyl, halogen or cyano; and R₃₃ and R₃₄, independently, are C₁-C₄-alkyl optionally substituted by halogen, cyano, hydroxyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, phenyl, chlorophenyl, methylphenyl, methoxyphenyl or C₂-C₅-alkoxycarbonyl. Other preferred compounds of formula (25) are those in which Z₂ is oxygen, sulfur, —SO₂—, —CON(R₃₆)— or —SO₂N(R₃₆)— in which R₃₆ is hydrogen or C₁-C₄-alkyl optionally substituted by hydroxyl, halogen or cyano; and Y₅ is C₁-C₄-alkylene.

The compounds of formula (25) and their production are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,161.

One preferred class of cationic phosphinic acid salt fluorescent whitening agent is that having the formula:

in which q has its previous significance; W₁ is whitener radical; Z₃ is a direct bond, —SO₂—C₂-C₄-alkyleneoxy, —SO₂-C₂-C₄-alkylene-COO—, —SO₂—, —COO—, —SO₂—C₂-C₄-alkylene-CON(R₄₂)— or —SO₂N(R₄₂)— in which R₄₂ is hydrogen or C₁-C₄-alkyl optionally substituted by hydroxyl, halogen or cyano; R₃₇ is C₁-C₄-alkyl or C₂-C₄-alkenyl, each optionally substituted by halogen, cyano, hyxdroxy, C₁-C₄-alkoxycarbonyl or C₁-C₄-alkylcarbonyloxy, or R₃₇ is benzyl, optionally substituted by halogen , C₁-C₄-alkyl or C₁-C₄-alkoxy, or R₃₇, together with R₃₈ or Z₃, forms a pyrrolidine, piperidine or morpholine radical; R₃₈ is C₁-C₄-alkyl or C₂-C₄-alkenyl, each optionally substituted by halogen, cyano, hydroxy, C₁-C₄-alkoxycarbonyl or C₁-C₄-alkylcarbonyloxy, or R₃₈ is benzyl, optionally substituted by halogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl or C₁-C₄-alkoxy, or R₃₈, together with R₃₇, forms a pyrrolidine, piperidine or morpholine radical; R₃₉ is C₁-C₄-alkyl; R₄₀ is hydrogen or C₁-C₄-alkyl, optionally substituted by cyano, hydroxy, C₁-C₄-alkoxycarbonyl or C₁-C₄-alkylcarbonyloxy; and R₄₁ is C₁-C₄-alkyl.

Preferably, whitener radical W₁ has the formula:

or the formula:

each optionally substituted by one to four substituents selected from halogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-hydroxyalkyl, C₁-C₄-halogenoalkyl, C₁-C₄-cyanoalkyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, phenyl-C₁-C₄-alkyl, carboxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, carb-C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-alkenyl, C₅-C₈-cycloalkyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, C₁-C₄-alkenoxy, C₁-C₄alkoxycarbonyl, carbamoyl, cyano, C₁-C₄-alkyl-sulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxysulfonyl, sulfamoyl, hydroxyl, carboxyl, sulfo and trifluoromethyl.

The compounds of formula (26) and their production are described in GB-A-2 023 605.

Preferred bis(triazinyl)diaminostilbene anionic fluorescent whitening agents for use in the present invention are those having the formula:

Preferred dibenzofuranylbiphenyl anionic fluorescent whitening agents for use in the present invention are those having the formula:

Preferred anionic bistyrylphenyl fluorescent whitening agents for use in the present invention are those having the formula:

In the formulae (27) to (29), R₄₂ is phenyl optionally substituted by one or two SO₃M groups and R₄₃ is NH—C₁-C₄-alkyl, N(C₁-C₄-alkyl)₂, NH—C₁-C₄-alkoxy, N(C₁-C₄-alkoxy)₂, N(C₁-C₄-alkyl)(C₁-C₄-hydroxyalkyl), N(C₁-C₄-hydroxyalkyl)₂; R₄₄ is H, C₁-C₄-alkyl, CN, Cl or SO₃M; R₄₅ and R₄₆, independently, are H, C₁-C₄-alkyl, SO₃M, CN, Cl or O—C₁-C₄-alkyl, provided that at least two of R₄₄, R₄₅ and R₄₆ are SO₃M and the third group has solubilising character; R₄₇ is H, SO₃M, O—C₁-C₄-alkyl, CN, Cl, COO—C₁-C₄-alkyl, or CON(C₁-C₄-alkyl)₂; M is is H, Na, K, Ca, Mg, ammonium, mono-, di-, tri- or tetra-C₁-C₄-alkylammonium, mono-, di- or tri-C₁-C₄-hydroxyalkylammonium or ammonium that is di- or tri-substituted with by a mixture of C₁-C₄-alkyl and C₁-C₄-hydroxyalkyl groups; and r is 0 or 1.

In the compounds of formulae (27) to (29), C₁-C₄-alkyl groups are, e.g., methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl and n-butyl, especially methyl. Aryl groups are naphthyl or, especially, phenyl.

Specific examples of preferred compounds of formula (27) are those having the formulae:

Preferred examples of compounds of formula (28) are those of formulae:

Preferred examples of compounds of formula (29) are those having the formulae:

The compounds of formulae (27) to (29) are known and may be obtained by known methods.

The present invention also provides, as a third aspect, a method for the treatment of a textile article, in particular to improve its SPF, comprising applying, to a previously washed article, a fabric rinse composition comprising:

a) 0.1 to 20, preferably 1 to 10% by weight of a UV absorber selected from a hydroxyaryl-1,3,5-triazine, a sulphonated-1,3,5-triazine, an o-hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole or a 2-aryl-2H-benzotriazole, based on the total weight of the composition;

b) a fabric care ingredient; and

c) the remainder being substantially water.

Preferably, the fabric care ingredient is a fabric softener, a stain release or stain repellant ingredient or a water-proofing agent, which is preferably present in an amount of from 5 to 25%, especially from 10 to 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

A preferred method for the treatment of a textile article, in particular to improve its SPF, comprises applying, to the previously washed article, a rinse cycle fabric softener composition comprising:

a) 0.05 to 5, preferably 0.1 to 1.5% by weight of a UV absorber selected from a hydroxyaryl-1,3,5-triazine, a sulphonated-1,3,5-triazine, an o-hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole or a 2-aryl-2H-benzotriazole, based on the total weight of the composition;

b) 5 to 25, preferably 10 to 20% by weight of a cationic fabric softening agent, based on the total weight of the composition; and

c) the remainder being substantially water.

The textile article treated according to the method of the present invention may be composed of any of a wide range of types of fibre such as wool, polyamide, cotton, polyester, polyacrylic, silk or any mixture thereof.

The method and composition of the present invention, in addition to providing protection to the skin, also increase the useful life of a textile article treated according to the present invention, for example by preserving its tear strength and/or its lightfastness.

The following Examples further illustrate the present invention.

EXAMPLE 1

The following rinse cycle softener base composition is made up:

6.7 g distearyldimethylammonium chloride

0.5 g fatty alcohol ethoxylate

87.8 g water

The composition so obtained has a pH value of 4.8.

To this composition is added 5.0 g of the UV absorber having the formula:

The composition so obtained has a pH value of 4.6.

EXAMPLE 2

The following rinse cycle softener base composition is made up:

22.2 g methyl bis(tallow-amidomethyl)-2-hydroxyethylammonium methylsulphate

0.5 g calcium chloride

0.6 g 10% w/w aqueous solution of citric acid

71.68 g water

The composition so obtained has a pH value of 4.1.

To this composition is added 5.0 g of the UV absorber having the formula:

The composition so obtained has a pH value of 4.3.

EXAMPLE 3

20 g of wool serge textile are washed/rinsed in a laboratory washing machine using a liquor ratio of 1:20 and a total volume of wash/rinse liquor of 400 mls. The wash/rinse liquor contains sufficient of the composition of Example 1 to make available 1% by weight of the UV absorber, based on the weight of the textile.

The wash/rinse liquor is heated to 40° C. and held at this temperature for 30 minutes. The level of exhaustion of the UV absorber on to the textile is then determined spectrophotometrically and is found to be 46%. The SPF of the washed/rinsed textile is 52. The SPF of textile washed/rinsed with a wash/rinse liquor containing no UV absorber is 22.

If the pH value of the composition of Example 1 is first adjusted to 8.5, by the addition of sufficient 10% caustic soda solution, and the washing/rinsing test is then conducted, the level of exhaustion of the UV absorber on to the textile is then 53% and the SPF is 62.

The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is determined by measurement of the UV light transmitted through the textile, using a double grating spectrophotometer fitted with an Ulbricht bowl. Calculation of SPF is conducted as described by B. L. Diffey and J. Robson in J. Soc. Cosm. Chem. 40 (1989), pp. 130-131.

Similar improvements in the SPF values of treated textiles are obtained when the UV absorber having the formula:

is replaced by a UV absorber having one of the formulae:

EXAMPLE 4

20 g of wool serge textile are washed/rinsed in a laboratory washing machine using a liquor ratio of 1:20 and a total volume of wash/rinse liquor of 400 mls. The wash/rinse liquor contains sufficient of the composition of Example 1 to make available 1% by weight of the UV absorber, based on the weight of the textile.

The wash/rinse liquor is heated to 40° C. and held at this temperature for 30 minutes. The level of exhaustion of the UV absorber on to the textile is then determined spectrophotometrically and is found to be 44%. The SPF of the washed/rinsed textile is 67. The SPF of textile washed/rinsed with a wash/rinse liquor containing no UV absorber is 24.

If the pH value of the composition of Example 1 is first adjusted to 8.5, by the addition of sufficient 10% caustic soda solution, and the washing/rinsing test is then conducted, the level of exhaustion of the UV absorber on to the textile is again 44% and the SPF is 86.

Similar results are obtained if the wool serge textile is replaced by a polyamide or polyester textile.

Similar improvements in the SPF values of treated textiles are obtained when the UV absorber having the formula:

is replaced by a UV absorber having one of the formulae:

EXAMPLE 5

The following rinse cycle softener base composition is made up:

6.7 g distearyldimethylammonium chloride

0.5 g fatty alcohol ethoxylate

86.8 g water

The composition so obtained has a pH value of 4.8.

To this composition is added 5.0 g of the UV absorber having the formula:

and 1.0 g of the fluorescent whitening agent of formula:

The composition so obtained has a pH value of 5.2.

EXAMPLE 6

20 g of cotton cretonne textile are washed/rinsed in a laboratory washing machine using a liquor ratio of 1:20 and a total volume of wash/rinse liquor of 400 mls. The wash/rinse liquor contains sufficient of the composition of Example 5 to make available 1% by weight of the UV absorber and 0.2% of the fluorescent whitening agent, each based on the weight of the textile.

The wash/rinse liquor is heated to 40° C. and held at this temperature for 30 minutes. The SPF of the washed/rinsed textile is 20. The SPF of textile washed/rinsed with a wash/rinse liquor containing no UV absorber or fluorescent whitening agent is 3.6. 

What is claimed:
 1. A stable, aqueous concentrated fabric rinse composition comprising, based on the total weight of the composition: a) 0.1 to 20% by weight of an o-hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole UV absorber of the formula

b) 5 to 25% by weight of a fabric softening agent of the formula

in which X is an anion and the groups R₁₂ are the same or different and each is a C₁-C₃₀ aliphatic residue, provided that at least one group R₁₂ is C₁₄-C₃₀alkyl; and c) 55 to 94.9% by weight of water, with the proviso that said composition does not contain an alkoxylated β-sitosterol.
 2. An aqueous composition according to claim 1 comprising: a) 1 to 10% by weight of said UV absorber.
 3. A composition according to claim 2 in which the fabric softening agent is present in an amount of from 10 to 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
 4. A composition according to claim 1 in which two groups R₁₂ are C₁₄-C₃₀alkyl.
 5. A composition according to claim 4 in which the remaining groups R₁₂ are C₁-C₄alkyl.
 6. A composition according to claim 5 in which the remaining groups R₁₂ are methyl or ethyl.
 7. A composition according to claim 1 in which X is a chloride, bromide, iodide, fluoride, sulfate, methosulfate, nitrite, nitrate or phosphate anion, or a carboxylate anion.
 8. A composition according to claim 7 in which the carboxylate anion is an acetate, adipate, phthalate, benzoate, stearate or oleate anion.
 9. A composition according to claim 1 in which the compound of formula (3) is: distearyldimethylammonium chloride dilauryldimethylammonium chloride dihexadecyldimethylammonium chloride distearyldimethylammonium bromide distearyldimethylammonium methosulfate or distearyldi-(isopropyl)-ammonium chloride.
 10. A composition according to claim 1 which also contains an adjuvant selected from an emulsifier, perfume, colouring dye, opacifiers, fluorescent whitening agent, bactericide, anti-gelling agent and corrosion inhibitor.
 11. A composition according to claim 10 in which the adjuvant is a fluorescent whitening agent.
 12. A stable, aqueous concentrated fabric rinse composition according to claim 1, wherein the o-hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole UV absorber is of the formula

. 